ABC head blames himself for ‘Once Upon a Time in Wonderland’s’ low ratings
Back when “Once Upon a Time in Wonderland” was first penciled in for a premiere date on Thursday nights in the fall, we were quick to have a simple reaction to it: What? It was a move that didn’t make a ton of sense. You were placing the show against “The Big Bang Theory” as well as another drama in “The Vampire Diaries,” and it was a big commitment to ask fans of the original “Once Upon a Time” to devote two hours to you a week.
Originally, the idea was to air the spin-off between one half of the show’s third season and the other, where it wold have given fans fresh programming, and a little bit of a different story. While you cannot go back in time and change things, ABC head Paul Lee did admit this week at TCA that he made an error in putting this show on at a time that had been murder for the network over the past few years:
“I should’ve done that. In retrospect, I think it would’ve done better there and I should’ve stuck with the earlier idea. I totally take responsibility for that.”
“Once Upon a Time in Wonderland” has not been technically canceled, but the feeling here is that it is only a matter of time before it does end up that way. If the ratings for the original were higher, ABC would probably be more willing to try this again with the original plan, but we don’t see it happening again at this point. There are enough other shows for the network to try out, and it really needs to do a little bit of digging. Save for “Scandal,” there is really not a breakout hit other than “Once Upon a Time” in the past few years. Even “Agents of SHIELD” is drawing lower ratings than it looked like it would.
Are you bummed at all about the lower ratings for the spin-off, and would you want to see the show back next year with different characters? Share below.
Maria Teresa Parra
January 26, 2014 @ 8:17 am
Now that Once Upon a Time is on its season break, I finally got into “…in Wonderland. Now, it’s not as twisty and shocking as its parent show, but I still got hooked. Even if it isn’t doing as well as they thought it would, I think it’s worse to cancel a show with a big cliffhanger like this one. I hope they give it another shot and air season 2 during the gap between OUAT’s season 3 & 4, and at least honor half of Paul Lee’s original plan.
fishingbuddy2
January 26, 2014 @ 1:44 am
Put it on Friday. There’s nothing on at 7. or Saturday – nothing but reruns.
Sunday and Mondays already have too many good shows – I watch some and have to follow ones on the other channel online.
Sophie
January 26, 2014 @ 12:50 am
PLEASE don’t cancel this show!!! It’s the only one I made time to watch all season and it is amazing!! Move the time or change the day just please, please, PLEASE don’t get rid of it :( I work a lot and I can’t be expected to make it home for every episode as it airs, but I watch it online as soon as I get the chance! This is one of my favorite shows of all time and I will freak out if I don’t get to find out what happens!!! :P
Stephanie Tirado
January 26, 2014 @ 12:23 am
Please don’t cancel or change the characters! I love this show! Maybe try a different time or day if need be but DEFINITELY DON’T CANCEL IT!
Jessica Lynn Shader
January 25, 2014 @ 11:53 pm
The show has great potential, but I must be an honest viewer in telling you that The Vampire Diaries takes precedence in my house on Thursdays and I was quite upset that I had to choose between the two. In a viewer’s opinion it would best be moved to Monday night if possible. It will follow its predecessor, thus making the shows flow more evenly and keep viewers happy.
Wonderland lover
January 25, 2014 @ 7:44 pm
Please don’t cancel it. It’s always been the highlight of my week.
Samantha
January 25, 2014 @ 6:12 pm
Do.Not.Cancel.The.Show. This is one of my favorite shows
Lisa
January 25, 2014 @ 4:52 pm
I love this show and watch every time plz do not cancel I repeat DO NOT CANCEL
Blknblu Kennels
January 25, 2014 @ 10:56 am
Change the time slot. It is a very good show! I can’t wait to learn more about Alice and Cyrus. In fact I dvr the show and watch it more than once.
Justin
January 25, 2014 @ 5:39 am
Honestly… ep 1-3 sucked. Starting at 4 it finally was getting good. Now, after 8 ep, ABC wants to cancel? You can’t expect every show to be a breakout hit… you have to give folks time to give something a chance. Canceling now is just a waste of effort. At least give it a full season before you yank the show. Apt 23 was the same way.. just as I get into it, ABC pulls the plug. This is why I cancelled my cable, and just stream anymore.. less disappointment.
Sam
January 25, 2014 @ 5:09 am
PLEASE DON’T CANCEL THE SHOW!!!!!!! This show is awesome! I got hooked the first time I watched it. Just move it to another time slot!! I started with OUAT but it started to get a little dull and then this came one. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!!! DON’T CANCEL THIS SHOW!!!!!!!
Alysia Hinchee
January 24, 2014 @ 11:19 pm
Don’t cancel this show I love it. I DVR all my shows and watch them later. I love the suspense that this draws in each episode
MindLikeWarp
January 24, 2014 @ 5:11 am
This is why new shows fail to get good ratings, because many people won’t watch new shows, because so many get cancelled on a cliffhanger. That is unfair to those who did watch the show. If you are going to end the show, then give it a conclusion at least. If they cancel this show, I won’t watch another new show on ABC until it reaches its third season. If you want people to watch your new shows, then stop canceling them, and maybe more people would be willing to invest their time into your shows and characters.
Michelle
January 24, 2014 @ 4:26 am
Please dont cancel the show! My son & I love to watch it! It is a great family show!
Anna
January 24, 2014 @ 2:49 am
you cannot cancel this show. it is far better than most on the air.
JuicyKiwi
January 24, 2014 @ 2:39 am
I just got hooked on this show! You can’t possibly cancel it!
MamaWallace
January 24, 2014 @ 12:32 am
Don’t cancel it!! My daughter & I love this show.
Jessica
January 23, 2014 @ 11:21 pm
Listen have a better cast. I’m sorry. It I love these show and I love this one..you can get better more interesting people to play these roles and make the back drop not look so fake. How is it the original show is doing so well? Because of those two reasons I’d asked and talked to a billion people Andy hey feel the same
ditchdr
January 23, 2014 @ 10:44 pm
Don’t cancel! Give it a chance! Pick a different night! This show is wonderful and very family friendly. Every child and every grown up with a child in them needs a little magic in their life!!!
Amy Paikuli
January 23, 2014 @ 9:47 pm
Please don’t cancel. This show is even BETTER than Once Upon A Time. I keep up with many shows by watching Prime Time On Demand!
SEASON 2! Season 2! SEASON 2!
SB
January 23, 2014 @ 8:31 pm
Love Wonderland – please do not cancel it! I am still watching them on the ABC app and can’t wait for new episodes … still want to know what exactly happened to the King!
Tree
January 23, 2014 @ 3:29 pm
Please don’t cancel the show, move it to a different day like Saturday or Sunday If you have it on Sunday have it before or after Once upon a time. I enjoy the show
JAG
January 23, 2014 @ 1:42 pm
I watch it on Demand when I miss it on its regular day. I Love the show and OUAT…I watch all shows through on Demand or the Internet except the two Once Upon a Time…
Abbi
January 23, 2014 @ 1:40 pm
I love this show! Please don’t cancel!!!
Tina
January 23, 2014 @ 1:38 pm
Our whole family can watch and enjoy this show. We love the back stories to all the characters. Please don’t cancel
Tom
January 23, 2014 @ 1:09 pm
Please don’t cancel! I love this show!! :(
Suzanne
January 23, 2014 @ 8:10 am
We only watch a handful of shows and 3 are ABC. Two “Once’s” and Agents of Shield. It’s a good show with a solid story, good actors, and has lots of potential. It would be another one of those good shows that hooks a viewer and gets cancelled and the viewer is left scratching their head asking “Now, Why did they do a dumb thing like that?” We catch it when we want to on Xfinity…com. So, the time slot isn’t a big deal to us either. There should be more clean entertainment to choose from.
Branda
January 23, 2014 @ 5:30 am
Please don’t cancel this show it is amazing and visually stunning
Wanda
January 23, 2014 @ 5:25 pm
Please don’t cancel the show i love it and i cant get enough of it i want to see what the next seasons all about if you have to move the time put it on Saturday’s i find there’s not much to watch on Saturday’s if you put that on that day a lot more people might have something to watch and you just might get your ratings i wish you guys all the luck on your next season hopefully
laura
January 22, 2014 @ 8:23 pm
plz dont cancel it . you guys left it on a cliff hanger u cant just cancel
Rebecca
January 21, 2014 @ 8:57 pm
Please don’t cancel!!! I work constantly, the only time I get to watch it, is late at night on my laptop!, I’m IN LOVE with the show <3
Honestly, I was interested with "Once Upon a Time", Watched the first season, then got bored. But now with "Wonderland", It's actually keeping me on edge 24/7.
Hopefully they will continue on with season 2 :)
Ree
January 21, 2014 @ 3:15 pm
There are not to many shows you can sit as a family and watch without having to tell your children to cover their eyes and ears! Try to work out the best time and season to run it, but I am hoping it is one that stays on the network!
Cynthia Yeo
January 21, 2014 @ 5:34 am
Please don’t cancel it just move the time. I watch it through Hulu plus and its amazing.
Gigi
January 20, 2014 @ 7:28 pm
Please don’t cancel. This is one of the very few that our entire family can watch and enjoy together!
SnShineintherain
January 20, 2014 @ 6:46 pm
Please don’t cancel it. I love this show. Put it on Fridays or something.
Stacia Madsen Shumway
January 20, 2014 @ 6:02 pm
Keep it, when I didn’t catch it on Thursday night I watched it on your app with my 13yr old. Move it to before or after OUAT or during the weeks between first & second half of the season.
MizsJay DeNay
January 20, 2014 @ 3:40 pm
Please don’t cancel. It’s one of my favorites and I hate to see another one of my favorites go…PPPLLLLLEEEAAASSSSEEEE!!!!!
Katrina Ebner
January 20, 2014 @ 2:52 pm
I love this show please don’t cancel it. I agree with one of the other comments just change it to Sundays or Mondays I would still watch
disqus_rIOkAPe7Iq
January 20, 2014 @ 4:30 am
Nooooo dont cancel it ! Just move it to Sundays with OUAT either before or after and people will watch it for sure ! I personally PVR all my favourite shows and watch them later!! I love this show ! Alice in wonderland is my favourite movie and i always thought someone should turn it into a show and finally you guys did !!
Ally
January 19, 2014 @ 11:50 pm
it better not get cancelled
lisa
January 19, 2014 @ 11:50 pm
it has to stay. this show is my favorite